Dear Colleagues,
DOE's Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee met October 20-21.
With the notable exception of Dr. Orbach's "News from the Office
of Science" all the presentations are now available on the web at:
http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/besac/Meetings.html#5432
Here are just a few highlights from Patricia Dehmer's
"News from the Office of Basic Energy Sciences" talk:
o FY 2004 budget update
-House Mark is +$8M for facility ops
-Senate Mark is at the President's Request
-Awaiting House-Senate conference and then appropriation.
-Continuing Resolution until 10-31-03 at the FY 2003 level
with no new starts.
o FY 2005 budget update
-Embargoed, but:
Facts:
The surplus has given way to a deficit
and
There exist significant international financial obligations
==> "Gloom-and-doom" budget predictions for discretionary
spending in FY 05 and beyond (i.e., the same predictions
as in most of the recent past years)
==> Science activities will succeed only if they are:
+ compelling;
+ important;
+ nonredundant;
+ well justified;
+ well managed;
+ nationally and internationally coordinated, as appropriate;
+ supported by:
the community,
the Administration,
and the Congress.
==> It will take a lot of work, considerable luck, and everyone
pulling in the same direction to succeed (i.e., the same
as in most years).
Nothing should be taken for granted.
Norman Graf
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